Martha Stewart, the 85-year-old lifestyle icon with an estimated net worth of $400 million, sparked widespread backlash after sharing a Halloween photo of herself dressed as a homeless person, complete with tattered clothes, dirt smudged on her face, and a clipboard sign reading “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!”
Stewart briefly posted the photo to her Instagram stories to promote her QVC candles before she or her team quickly deleted it.
Unfortunately for Stewart, the internet is forever, and screengrabs quickly spread to other platforms.
Martha Stewart shared photo seemingly dressed up as a homeless person for Halloween.
She has since deleted the post. https://t.co/PzTX1BoDhK
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 1, 2026
The post’s caption read, “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!,” according to a TMZ report.
Social media users quickly jumped down her throat over the costume being “out of touch,” “offensive,” and “gross,” especially when contrasted with Stewart’s vast wealth and her decision to turn poverty and hunger into a Halloween gag tied to candle sales.
In a statement to Page Six, Stewart said she was trying to raise awareness of homelessness.
She did not apologize.
“I am distressed that my Halloween costume yesterday, which was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness, has offended people, which was never my intention,” Stewart told Page Six.
“Homelessness continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about and I have spent a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic,” she added.
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